One

"Kath, would you please consider this just for once?" Mr. Sullivan said, trailing after me. "It could mean a lot to your career!" He even raised both his arms in exaggeration.

"Lower down your tone," I said in a whisper as I wiped a table. Then I looked around to make sure that no one is within earshot bago ko siya muling hinarap at pinandilatan ng mata. "Mr. Sullivan, we've talked about this. I'm not going to entertain any interviews or whatever the hell it is."

"But she traveled from Manila all the way here to Parola just to see you," He glanced discreetly at the woman just outside the shop. With her curly brown hair, sophisticated make-up, and red pumps, she looks more like a fashion star than a reporter to me. I immediately frown.

"I've signed the contract that states nothing should interfere with my private life." I said in a clipped tone, trying to send a warning to my publisher that this conversation is useless.

"Hindi mo ba siya kilala? She is Elsa Gestoso. The Elsa Gestoso!" He emphasized her name.

I sighed and placed down the rag. I glanced at the counter to make sure our manager isn't looking at us. Binalingan ko ulit si Mr. Sullivan, looking impatient.

"And?" I cocked an eyebrow.

"She's going to make you more popular than you already are! Honestly, Katherine Lagdameo, mysterious authors are so not in trend right now. If you want opportunities offered in the industry, you should step out of the spotlight and claim your books!"

"Book," I corrected. "I haven't finished writing the second book yet."

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes. "You're going to submit it anyway, right?"

"It depends on how you treat me for the next five minutes." I gave him a cocky smile. The middle-aged man looked like he's fighting himself from strangling me. He straighten up, obviously trying to compose himself and maintain his professionalism.

"Are you really serious about this, Kath?"

"Yes I am." I answered firmly then flashed a bright smile when I spotted a young lady entering the cafe. "Welcome to Gypsy's!" I sang. She ignored me and huffed as she strode towards the counter. Both our eyes darted on the copy of the book The Great Escape tucked between her arms.

Mr. Sullivan crossed his arms. "See? If this young lady learns that you are the author of the book she is reading right now, she'd probably go crazy and ask you to sign your book."

"But I don't want that." I answered right away. "I'm contented with my life here, if you haven't noticed."

"Being a waitress?" He exclaimed, making it sound like the biggest mistake of my life. Gypsy's manager, Nilo shot both of us a glare. I immediately tensed.

"Look, Mr. Sullivan, I'm sorry. I know you are just doing your job but I really don't want any interviews, book signing events, and whatnot. I like writing behind the shadows. There is nothing you can do to change my mind."

"You are so stubbon." He shook his head, admitting defeat. "And to think I traveled 9 hours just to get to this damn cape." He muttered under his breath.

I smiled apologetically at him. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Sir. You gave me a call when I was in Pundaguitan before you brought Ms. Elsa here and I politely declined. You can't expect me to be a yes-man once you've shoved to me the reporter who had gone her way from Manila just to interview me."

"Okay, okay." He nodded his head. "Ako na ang bahala kumausap kay Ms. Elsa." Then he cleared his throat. "But make sure to submit your manuscript next month, Kath. Your readers are anticipating for your book 2. You can't hold their interest as long as you want."

"Sure." I chirped. Then he eyed my full-sleeved tattoo. I did not missed the cringe that crossed his face for a second.

"On a second thought, I think it's the better they do not know that the author of a best-selling novel is a green-haired girl with piercings and lots of...weird tattoos."

Napahalakhak ako sa sinabi niya. "That's what I thought, Mr. Sullivan. Now, get out of here before I lose my job. Or would you rather treat Ms. Elsa a cup of coffee first before sending her back to Manila? I'd be happy to serve you."

He glared at me before he went out of the cafe. I watched him talked to Ms. Elsa through the thick glass windows for a while, disappointment falling into her face. Then she smiled politely and followed Mr. Sullivan inside Gypsy's. I smiled at them and gave each of them a copy of the menu.

"Ah, my niece. This is...Paula." Mr. Sullivan was quick to fabricate a lie. "Paula, this is Ms. Elsa."

I smiled at her. "Pleased to meet you."

She smiled back but her eyes were filled with sadness and disappointment. "Hello, dear."

"She works here for as long as I can remember." Mr. Sullivan supplied. The reporter just nodded.

"Are you sure you can't convince her?" I heard Ms. Elsa said as she scanned the menu, obviously distracted.

Mr. Sullivan sighed. "I'm sorry but I tried talking to her. The girl is stubborn." He glared at me for a while before he turned back to the gorgeous reporter and smiled apologetically. Pinigilan ko ang pagtawa at isinulat sa notepad ang order nilang dalawa.

Nagpaalam na ako sandali to submit their orders, giving Mr. Sullivan a cocky smile again. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at me and talked to Ms. Elsa instead.

I slid inside the kitchen and gave order to our in-house chef, Jason.

"Who was that?" He queried.

"Uncle ko." Pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya. Whenever someone in the cafe asks about Mr. Sullivan, I immediately refer him as a close family relative because he seems like one.

Hindi na sumagot pa si Jason at sinimulan nang trabahuin ang order nila. I sighed. This is not the first time Mr. Sullivan traveled from Davao all the way to Cape of San Agustin just to convince me for an interview. And this time, he even brought a reporter.

When the evening rolled over, instead of turning off the lights and going to sleep like all the local villagers do in most normal days, a festive night started. Sound systems, karaokes, and lots of foods were gathered in the function hall of Cape San Agustin. The owner of the cafe, Mrs. Sarmiento or as I'd like to call her Grand Ida, even joined the crowd of smiling villagers.

The servers of the cafe were busy preparing food and catering local residents who came to join the celebration of 30th anniversary of the cafe. Beneath the booming sounds of someone singing Alone in an off-key tune, beach waves were lapping the shore silently.

As I placed down a large bowl of kaldereta, Nilo glanced at me and said half-heartedly, "You're off, Kath. Ipaubaya mo na yan sa mga night shifts."

"Sure." I bounced happily and joined the crowd. An elderly woman smiled at me, si Lola Aila. Kinamusta ko siya habang inaalalayan sa pagkuha ng pagkain sa buffet table.

"Kinakamusta ka ni John." She said again, giving me a glance to catch my reaction.

I just smiled politely at her. "Sabihin niyo lang po na okay lang ako. Atsaka paki-kamusta nalang din po ako sa kanya kapag bumalik na kayo ng Davao."

She sighed. "Sigurado ka ba hija na dito ka lang? Pag-isipan mong mabuti ang alok ni John. Sigurado naman akong gusto ka ng apo ko."

I tilted my head, trying to hide the frown on my face. John had been courting me for a couple of months. I rejected him a couple of times as well. Kahit na inaalok niya akong manirahan sa apartment niya sa Davao ay hindi pa rin ako pumayag. John is actually a nice guy. He's a finance advisor in BDO but I just couldn't see myself being with him. Pati ang lola niya ay palaging pinapaalala sa akin ang apo sa tuwing magkikita kami.

I made sure that Lola Aila found a seat before I left her. Hinanap ko kaagad si Are. Are is an old tattoo artist who refused to be called Lolo or Sir. I immediately recognized his tall figure and olive skin filled with tattoos from the base of his neck and disappeared in the v-line of his white shirt despite the local villagers and some tourists who spent the night in the cape passing here and there. He was the one who inked my tattoo on my full right arm and I wished I could ask him again to continue the design on my other arm as well. Nagulat ako nang makita ko siyang masayang nakikipagkuwentuhan kay Mr. Sullivan.

The publisher and reporter missed the last trip on the bus bound to Davao kaya napilitan silang manatili dito ng isang gabi. He was grumbling about the place being so boring and the poor cellular signal but I've never seen him smile so wide, a beer in hand while talking to Are.

Lumapit ako sa kanila, a smile pasted on my lips. "Hi, how it's going?"

"Oh, if it isn't my favorite girl, Kath." Ms. Elsa gave me a confused look when Are called me Kath but I ignored her. Sure enough, what was written on the book is my real name but since Mr. Sullivan introduced me as his niece, I figured she would just ignored it.

"Hi, Are." I sang and sat across them. "How about a new full-sleeved tattoo on my left arm?" I said and grin widely.

He immediately scowled at me. "Give the old man a break! Kararating ko pa lang eh."

I threw my head back and laughed. "Okay, okay."

Are turned to Ms. Elsa, obviously appreciating the beauty of the news reporter. "So Elsa, dear, you we're saying about this stubborn author who would not entertain an interview?"

"Ah, yes." Ms. Elsa seemed to snapped out of her thoughts. I resisted the urge to heave a sigh when I realized that they were talking about me again. "I'd really like to meet her though. Mr. Sullivan said that she resides here in Brgy. Lavigan. Unfortunately, she refuses to meet me." She said in a sad tone.

"What's her book again?"

"The Great Escape." Her face immediately lit up as she animatedly filled the old tattoo artist details of my book and probably the whole summary of the novel. When she finished, she couldn't wipe off the grin from her face. "It's amazing, right?"

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Mr. Sullivan.

Are took a sip from his beer and nodded after a while. "Yeah, haven't heard of a story like that before."

"Most of the readers are eager to know the author behind this book. Their best guess is that she's around 40 or 50. She really knows how to use her words so well!" She even clapped her hands in enthusiasm. If only Ms. Elsa isn't blessed with an attractive face she could've looked like an idiot right then and there.

I relaxed in my seat, amused by the reporter.

"Bakit naman ayaw niyang magpa-interview?" Usisa pa ni Are.

Ms. Elsa's smile died down. It was replaced by a frown on her pretty face. "She doesn't want anyone to stick their noses into her private life."

"It's her rights." Nagulat ako nang depensahan ako ni Mr. Sullivan. Most of the times he's against all of my decisions and treated me like a stubborn little girl he is forced to deal with. "It was written in the contract that we both signed up."

The reporter threw her head back and moaned. "Can't you at least tell me what she looked like? I can't go back to Manila empty-handed!" she cried.

Mr. Sullivan glanced at me, obviously asking for a permission. I gave him a curt nod.

"Well... she's a bit weird."

"All writers are weird." Ms. Elsa pointed out.

Parehong tumawa sina Are at Mr. Sullivan.

"I'm sorry, I can't really say anything more than that." I appreciated the fact that Mr. Sullivan, even if we fight more than we talk, still respects my privacy. Hindi ako nagkamali sa kanya.

She nodded her head slowly. "Yeah. Sayang lang talaga. Our editor told me I could feature more authors once I get a grip on this interview everyone is waiting for. Ang problema nga lang, ni anino ni Katherine Lagmadeo hindi ko pa makita."

"It's a break in your career, right?" Are asked, both for Ms. Elsa and me. I guess he must've realized that the hard-headed author Ms. Elsa looking for is just sitting right across her face. And I am thankful he did not said a word about it.

"Yes." She said, her shoulders slumped.

"Uhm, I think I should go." I said politely as I slid out of my chair before the conversation goes into a point where both me and Mr. Sullivan cannot control anymore. "Enjoy your night." I glanced at Are. "And Are, you might want to drop by the cafe tomorrow."

"Sure." He nodded his head, studying my every move.

They all waved at me. I walked fast and disappeared into the crowd and hopefully, from Ms. Elsa's life forever.